SimplyInfo » Entries tagged with "unit 3"
High Levels Of Radiation Found In Fukushima Unit 3 Turbine Building
TEPCO released radiation readings for water inside the unit 3 turbine building this week. The readings were from December 2013. TEPCO used them as a comparison to show a water leak elsewhere in the building was not reactor water. The readings themselves are a rare find as TEPCO doesn’t usually release this data. The readings are disturbingly high. Reference: No. 3 aircraft turbine building underground reservoir water analysis result （ H25/12/6 sampling ）: Cesium-134: 7,300,000 Bq/L Cesium-137: … Read entire article »
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Fukushima Unit 3 Concrete Reactor Cover Damaged
TEPCO has admitted that the concrete reactor well cover on unit 3 has been damaged. They floated two possible causes. One being the explosion itself, the other being the overhead crane falling on the covers as part of the blast. The crane portion that holds the hook is what is assumed to have done the damage. The center panel of the concrete cover is broken and sunken. TEPCO’s report guesses that the lower cover layers are … Read entire article »
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Fukushima Unit 3 Spent Fuel Pool Debris Removal Update
METI has reported some progress and a plan for removing debris out of the unit 3 spent fuel pool. Initial work already in progress includes removal of the steel pool cover and then any rebar than can easily be removed, this work is already underway. Then work will progress in this order: 1.(④, ⑤, ⑥, ⑦) removal mast , roof truss material 2 . Removal of FHM (fuel handling machine) (⑧) 3 . Removal of FHM west end … Read entire article »
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Fukushima Unit 3 Equipment Hatch Damaged
The upper floors of the equipment hatch at unit 3 were found to have some damage on a recent inspection. METI’s report estimates a 50% reduction in seismic resistance in this area. They did not indicate that this would change the plan for installation of the defueling cover but this area currently is planned to be in use for that work. http://www.meti.go.jp/earthquake/nuclear/pdf/131226/131226_01ff.pdf This article would not be possible without the extensive efforts of the SimplyInfo research team Join … Read entire article »
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Fukushima Unit 3 MSIV Room Door Blown In
News 24 is reporting that TEPCO has admitted that the steel door for the MSIV room was found to be blown inward. Due to high radiation levels humans can not go in to retrieve the door and robots are incapable of removing the object. This is cited as the reason for attempting an inspection into the room from the floor above. TEPCO had previously indicated they thought there was possibly standing water in the room, with … Read entire article »
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More On Fukushima Unit 3, TEPCO Fails To Explain Levels
TEPCO released two new handouts on the leak at unit 3. This gives some additional insight but still fails to explain a number of critical issues. Handout 1: http://www.tepco.co.jp/nu/fukushima-np/handouts/2014/images/handouts_140122_05-j.pdf Handout 2: http://www.tepco.co.jp/en/nu/fukushima-np/roadmap/images/l140120_01-e.pdf TEPCO does not provide any data to explain their claim for where the water level in containment is. They cite using pressure readings to determine this but give no information to show how they came to such a conclusion. Available pressure readings show a single sensor for the … Read entire article »
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TEPCO Thinks Water Leak At U3 Has Reduced
TEPCO thinks that the water leak at unit 3 has reduced in volume. They claim nothing has changed in reactor data or water injection rates. They gave no other explanation but did release a new video of the leak area. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cEcq1UmBnXQ&feature=youtu.be This article would not be possible without the extensive efforts of the SimplyInfo research team Join the conversation at chat.simplyinfo.org All content is copyright SimplyInfo.org. Content cited, quoted etc. from other sources is under the respective rights of … Read entire article »
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TEPCO Admits Containment Failure Possible Source Of U3 Leak
NHK is reporting some newer admissions from TEPCO on the unit 3 water leak found over the weekend. They continue to say they think it is a leak from containment but now admit there could be a failure of one of the steam pipe penetrations. “The officials suspect the water is leaking from around an opening for a steam pipe in the wall of the containment vessel. They said the extra space around the opening had been tightly … Read entire article »
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Unit 3 New Water Leak; TEPCO Explanations Fail To Identify Source
TEPCO has reported a leak in unit 3 coming out of the area of the steam tunnel where the main steam isolation valves are. Initially TEPCO reported this as being rainwater with no further proof how they came to that conclusion. Today they claimed it is water from containment without further clarification. A number of people have suggested it may be the MSIV valve or steam line leaking and have concerns that it broke during the … Read entire article »
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Leak At Unit 3 Found To Be High Radiation Water
TEPCO announced a leak in unit 3 near the steam tunnel area over the weekend. They initially tried to blame it on rainwater. Now TEPCO has released radiation readings for the leaking water. The radiation levels are considerable and TEPCO claims they are higher than the levels in the cooling injection water. The main steam isolation valves and also the incoming feedwater lines are in this tunnel. From TEPCO’s press release (machine translated) For water leakage in … Read entire article »
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Unit 3 Fukushima Daiichi Reactor Data
There have been a number of unsubstantiated rumors going around about “new problems” at unit 3. Information is always better than rumor. We pulled the reactor data for the last week for unit 3. Temperatures are within expected and historical levels. Xenon 135 is monitored as an indicator of fission and is consistent at levels well below anything that would indicate anything outside of normal for the state of unit 3. The steam at unit … Read entire article »
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TEPCO Begins Seismic Review Of Unit 3
TEPCO has begun a seismic review of the condition of unit 3. With the debris removed from the refueling floor, efforts have begun to inspect the building for more damage. They will begin reviewing the refueling floor with a camera hung from a crane tomorrow. TEPCO also intends to do similar work on all levels of the building but does not clarify how they intend to reach some portions of the building that fell in … Read entire article »
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Unit 3 Spent Fuel Pool; Debris Removal Preparation Begins
Kyodo News announced yesterday that preparations are underway to remove the debris from the unit 3 spent fuel pool at Fukushima Daiichi. The debris in unit 3′s spent fuel pool is much more excessive and complicated than unit 4. In unit 3′s pool is a tangle of rebar and concrete along with the refueling crane. The refueling crane apparently fell in the pool during the explosion. One end landed on the fuel racks. Along with the … Read entire article »
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Debris Removal At 1st Floor Unit 3 Fukushima Underway
TEPCO mentions that debris removal work on the 1st floor of unit 3 is underway. The work had been on various planning documents but is now confirmed to be ongoing. The work is being done by way of robotic equipment. The confirmation came as the SoRa robot developed an oil leak. This debris removal will help both robots and workers gain entry to more of the building. SoRa was built by Hitachi-GE. TEPCO does not state … Read entire article »
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Unit 3 Leaking Alpha Radiation
TEPCO put out a report on alpha emitters found in the gas removal systems for units 1-3. This appears to be the first reporting of this. Units 1 and 2 were tested and said to be below detection. Unit 3 is leaking a certain amount of alpha emitters out the gas removal system and is likely leaking the same out the damaged reactor well on the top. Some of the isotopes listed are expected. What appears unusual is that only unit 3 is cited as detecting them. Since unit 3 was running a partial load of MOX plutonium fuel is this a roundabout admission by TEPCO that 3 is leaking detectable amounts of plutonium due to the fuel mix? Since TEPCO plays coy, or possibly lazy and only lists “all alpha” radiation … Read entire article »
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TEPCO Admits Containment Failure At Unit 3
Most in the know have strongly suspected this since 2011 but TEPCO finally admitted this today. Unit 3′s containment structure is failed via the reactor well. This came about as the press questioned TEPCO about the ongoing steam leak source at unit 3. TEPCO had been declaring it to be rain leaking onto a warm structure up until now. Ex-SKF translates this from the TEPCO PR representative at today’s press conference: “it was around this area where the steam was coming from inside the reactor’s Containment Vessel right after the accident [explosion of Reactor 3 on March 14, 2011"] LaPrimavera at Ex-SKF found this perplexing as he didn’t remember TEPCO admitting this in 2011 while they today act like everyone knew. He is right, TEPCO never admitted this and the one statement about … Read entire article »
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UPDATE: New Radiation Readings At Unit 3 Reactor Well
TEPCO released some additional radiation readings for the reactor well of unit 3 today. They can be seen below on an overlay of the heat image released previously. These readings show that the high readings released yesterday are not isolated and that the entire reactor well area is quite high in radiation. There does appear to be some focal effect coming off of the source of the hot spot (temperature) area. TEPCO’s updated report http://www.tepco.co.jp/en/nu/fukushima-np/handouts/2013/images/handouts_130724_05-e.pdf This article would not be possible without the extensive efforts of the SimplyInfo research team Join the conversation at chat.simplyinfo.org All content is copyright SimplyInfo.org. Content cited, quoted etc. from other sources is under the respective rights of that content owner. If you are viewing this page on any website other than www.simplyinfo.org (or www.fukuleaks.org) it may be plagiarized, please … Read entire article »
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TEPCO Releases Unit 3 Radiation Levels, Shows New Problem
TEPCO published this new document today that includes more radiation readings for the reactor well of unit 3. These new readings done as an overlay on the recent heat image really shows the problem. The highest readings are focused on the heat readings. The area near the spent fuel pool gate are higher and the location where the steam is leaking is elevated compared to the adjacent readings. This still requires more analysis to determine what may be going on beneath the thick concrete reactor well cover. The readings are all considerably high with many higher than what was found at unit 2. Unit 2 has been sealed off after TEPCO discovered extremely high levels of radiation were leaking out the blow out panel of the refueling floor at that unit. Unit … Read entire article »
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TEPCO Hides Unit 3 Data, Who Watches TEPCO?
After months of data about water and little else, TEPCO remains mum on unit 3. Considerable progress has been made in removing the debris on the refueling floor. This reveals what could be considerable information and evidence related to the meltdown and massive blast at unit 3. The last report on unit 3 was in late May when they installed a cover over the spent fuel pool. Since then the webcam at the plant shows the back wall and most of the tangle of debris has been removed. This process will reveal the state of the damaged side of the refueling deck and the condition of the reactor well components. What could be determined in 2011 was that the south side of the building’s upper floors had collapsed and considerable steam had … Read entire article »
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New Leak Found Near Unit 3 At Fukushima Daiichi
TEPCO is admitting to increased levels of radiation near unit 3. An increased amount of beta radiation and cesium was found today near the unit 3 intake canal in groundwater well #3. These levels increased since July 4th when beta was at “none detected” to 1400 bq/liter. http://www.tepco.co.jp/en/nu/fukushima-np/f1/smp/2013/images/2tb-east_13071201-e.pdf In addition to the well water increase, they found an elevated reading in a seawater piping trench just outside the unit 3 turbine building. The contamination levels inside the turbine buildings were all at about the same contamination level. TEPCO doesn’t mention exactly where in the turbine buildings they took those readings. What this testing showed is that something is creating contaminated water that is showing up at the seafront outside the turbine buildings and near unit 3. This is outside the previous thought … Read entire article »
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Unit 3 Fukushima Daiichi Debris Removal Near Completion
Debris removal has been ongoing during the last month as TEPCO attempted to distract the public with the leaking ponds issue. Photos below from the TEPCO webcam show the rapid progress in just the last few weeks. The image in early June shows the back wall structure is still in place and much of the roof trussing debris was still on top of the refueling floor. About 50% of the trussing and debris is gone compared to earlier in the month. Half of the back wall frame is removed. TEPCO has reported little or nothing since they did beam removal work on the spent fuel pool months ago. As unit 4 was cleared off TEPCO provided multiple updates and images of the complicated work to removal the refueling floor and reactor … Read entire article »
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Highly Radioactive Debris Found On Unit 3 Refueling Floor
TEPCO has announced that a piece of highly radioactive debris has been pulled off of the refueling floor of unit 3. The object read 540 mSv/h and was removed by robotic equipment. So far no photos of the object or description of where on the refueling floor it was found have been provided by TEPCO. Ex-SKF has full translations of the two TEPCO statements. We have been monitoring the progress of the refueling floor debris removal. As of last week they were nearing the area over the reactor well. These photos show where they were in the clean up last week. This article would not be possible without the extensive efforts of the SimplyInfo research team Join the conversation at chat.simplyinfo.org All content is copyright SimplyInfo.org. Content cited, quoted etc. from other sources is … Read entire article »
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Temporary Power Failure At Fukushima Daiichi, Not A Repeat From Last Week
Unit 3 lost power to the spent fuel pool cooling system yet again. So far no cause has been admitted and the other units are reported to still have power. The power system at unit 3 was out for about 3 hours before being restored. This incident is not building public confidence after a rat took out power to the plant in recent weeks. Read more: http://ajw.asahi.com/article/0311disaster/fukushima/AJ201304050069 http://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/english/news/20130405_26.html This article would not be possible without the extensive efforts of the SimplyInfo research team Join the conversation at chat.simplyinfo.org All content is copyright SimplyInfo.org. Content cited, quoted etc. from other sources is under the respective rights of that content owner. If you are viewing this page on any website other than www.simplyinfo.org (or www.fukuleaks.org) it may be plagiarized, please let us know. If you wish to reproduce any … Read entire article »
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Unit 3 Location Of Crane & Mast In Pool
In an attempt to better understand how the crane is situated in the spent fuel pool of unit 3 we developed some illustrations. Using various TEPCO reports, diagrams and photos we were able to estimate the location of both items within the spent fuel pool. The first flat map shows the crane location in green and the mast in pink per TEPCO’s original version of the map. The red blocks are known location of fuel based on a 2010 photo of the spent fuel pool. Additional fuel may have been offloaded into the pool since the photo was taken. The second image attempts to show both items in within the pool. This article would not be possible without the extensive efforts of the SimplyInfo research team Join the conversation at chat.simplyinfo.org All content is copyright … Read entire article »
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Analysis: Unit 3 Mast In Pool Inspection
TEPCO released a new video and handout of the unit 3 mast that fell deeper into the spent fuel pool. We have processed the video into about 200 still images that can be found here. The full video of the inspection can be found on our Youtube channel. TEPCO estimates one end of the mast landed along the east wall with the end resting on a control rod drive rack. The other end appears to be resting tangled in concrete and rebar debris on top of the fuel racks. Portions of the middle of the mast can be seen spanning above the fuel racks by a few inches. What appears to have been the structure that originally held the mast into the fuel crane can be seen partially down the mast. What is of … Read entire article »
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Unit 3 Daiichi Pool Accident Analysis
TEPCO announced this week that the 1.5 ton mast for the refueling crane fell into the pool and sank as they tried to remove debris from the pool. TEPCO has done some testing of radiation levels near the pool and does not think there was fuel damage based on not finding drastically elevated levels. The mast falling could create a couple of potential damage situations. It could fall and damage the fuel assemblies held in the pool. It could also damage or puncture the spent fuel pool metal liner causing a leak in the pool. The condition of the liner or the concrete pool has not been confirmed by TEPCO to date. The mast that fell looks like this under normal conditions. It has minimal connections to the refueling crane. TEPCO released these … Read entire article »
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New Paper: Gamma Radiation Damage To Fukushima Units 1- 4 Spent Fuel Pools
fukuleaks.org/web has released another new paper taking an in depth look into the ongoing challenges at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant. This new work investigates the technical issues involved with the ongoing degradation of the spent fuel pools. Gamma radiation is an ongoing problem for the steel and concrete that composes the spent fuel pools. Aspects of the disaster have drastically changed that damage mechansim. The paper can be found online and also in PDF format for download or reading on book readers. Gamma Radiation Damage To Fukushima Units 1- 4 Spent Fuel Pools http://www.fukuleaks.org/web/?page_id=9353 This article would not be possible without the extensive efforts of the SimplyInfo research team Join the conversation at chat.simplyinfo.org All content is copyright SimplyInfo.org. Content cited, quoted etc. from other sources is under the respective rights of that content … Read entire article »
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Atomic Rats, Fishing For Beams & Cleaning Up The Common Pool At Daiichi
Workers at the plant are reporting seeing rats at Daiichi. Worker Happy11311 mentioned seeing them and was worried they would damage cables at the plant. They could cause obvious safety problems if they chewed on electrical or water lines. Small animals also pose the risk of getting into equipment and causing issues by tripping electrical systems. Then there is the problem of rats being in contact with high levels of radiation then making them highly contaminated. This can cause problems as they then spread the contamination up the food chain or take it with them if they leave the immediate area. TEPCO successfully pulled the steel beam that had fallen in the spent fuel pool of #3 back in October. They did a practice run and installed some safety bumpers … Read entire article »
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Robot Inspection Of Unit 3 Finds Increasing Radiation Levels, New Robot Fails.
TEPCO reports the results of a robot inspection in unit 3 at Fukushima Daiichi. The initial work was to look at the improvised duct hose to remove gas from the reactor containment. The new robot FRIGO-MA failed to work due to a bug. TEPCO sent in Packbot and Quince instead. TEPCO did not state the nature of the inspection other than to look at the gas duct hose. It appears the concern was due to increasing radiation levels in the area. TEPCO was likely inspecting the duct as the source of the possible increase. No leaks or damage were found on the duct. What they found was that the containment door and track were the source of the increased radiation levels. Workers had a .52 mSv exposure dose for their work. Packbot … Read entire article »
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TEPCO Inspects Gas Control & Introduces A New Robot
TEPCO announced they are sending in robots to inspect an improvised gas control duct in unit 3. They do not say why they are inspecting the “duct” that looks more like a reinforced hose. This duct was quite obviously installed by humans at some earlier date yet TEPCO never reported this specifically. Now they will send in robots because the radiation levels are too high. While this is good as far as protecting workers and using robots for mundane tasks, the exposures of the workers that installed the duct were likely quite high. The worker seen in the image is wearing a yellow protective suit seen when workers have to go into extremely high radiation areas. TEPCO also introduced a new robot. FRIGO-MA built by Mitsubishi Details on the work at unit 3 and … Read entire article »
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Oops! Worker Bumps Reactor Water Valve At Fukushima Daiichi Changing Water Rate
A worker installing pipe insulation bumped a valve controlling the feedwater cooling for unit 3 at Fukushima Daiichi. This increased the water injection rate to 7 tons per hour from 5.8 tons per hour. Once it was discovered workers adjusted the valve back down. Such events highlight the fragile nature of the plant where critical systems have no protection or safety systems. This article would not be possible without the extensive efforts of the SimplyInfo research team Join the conversation at chat.simplyinfo.org All content is copyright SimplyInfo.org. Content cited, quoted etc. from other sources is under the respective rights of that content owner. If you are viewing this page on any website other than www.simplyinfo.org (or www.fukuleaks.org) it may be plagiarized, please let us know. If you wish to reproduce any of our content … Read entire article »
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Indecision, Handouts And Heating Up Fuel Pools
The NRA panel of experts was supposed to decide today if the Oi nuclear plant would be allowed to continue operating or not. Instead of a decision they have decided upon more tests. TEPCO says it needs $125 billion USD to continue making compensation payments and to cover the cost of decontaminating areas covered in fallout from the leaking nuclear plant. This amount is equal to 2% of Japan’s GDP. A recent video stated these costs were only to cover possibly the next two years. Some experts said the constant need for huge sums of money to deal with the nuclear disaster would turn TEPCO into a “shell” that exists only as a vehicle to deal with the disaster. By contrast the Price Anderson Act in the US, a law that … Read entire article »
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Unit 3 Debris Accident & Pool Damage
TEPCO began removing debris using remote control cranes last week. Reports from worker Happy11311 indicated that they didn’t have a detailed plan for removing the debris but were going to determine as they go what appeared to be safe to remove next. After the steel beam fell into the pool he reported in more detail how difficult the work at unit 3 really is. They work in a remote booth while in full radiation protection gear and respirators, he commented that the crane and camera shake adding to the difficulty. He compared it to a big game of Jenga. The Denki Shimbun reported that the twisted steel and debris on top of unit 3 are bent inward making the removal much more difficult than at unit 4 where most of the … Read entire article »
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Unit 3 SFP Inspection, Reactor Cap Removed At Unit 4
TEPCO has been progressing on work at Fukushima Daiichi to deal with units 3 and 4. The reactor (RPV) cap was removed from the top of unit 4. It appears TEPCO has removed all of the large heavy gear that had been sitting on the top west floor of the damaged reactor building. This removal should help with building stability. This image shows the yellow containment cap, tool pit crane,all of the concrete reactor well plug and the reactor cap have been removed. More images of unit 4′s work can be found in our photo gallery here. The TEPCO handout on the work: handouts_120913_03-e Work at unit 3 involved looking into the spent fuel pool as they prepare to begin removing debris from what is left of the refueling deck. Most of the images were looking … Read entire article »
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Unit 3 Robot Entry Video & New Enhanced Images
TEPCO sent robot Quince 2 into unit 3 at Daiichi to inspect the TIPS room. Damage to some of the electrical panels, water on the floors were found. The door for the hallway into the TIPS room was blown into the hallway, door frame and all. The mangled door can be seen blocking the end of the TIPS room hallway. The door frame in pieces with on on the floor in the foreground. The holes in the door frame piece match the holes in the concrete door way. The video can be found here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QIzAXojFLA0&feature=youtu.be PDF document describing findings and radiation readings: handouts_120524_08-j This article would not be possible without the extensive efforts of the SimplyInfo research team Join the conversation at chat.simplyinfo.org All content is copyright SimplyInfo.org. Content cited, quoted etc. from other sources is under … Read entire article »
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Unit 3 Spent Fuel Pool Videos & Enhanced Images
TEPCO finally released the videos of the unit 3 spent fuel pool. The videos do give a better look at the situation than the previously released images TEPCO provided last week. Comments with each image. Images are free to reuse or redistribute, please leave the watermark intact. Click on any image to enlarge. TEPCO videos: http://youtu.be/GK0sL_UA1NM http://youtu.be/4HZa1NjuJAQ http://youtu.be/n89lU9VyYzs http://youtu.be/cVfwjYe0VFM http://youtu.be/8f4u43P2YwM Images: fuel racks with debris and what looks like fuel assembly handles at top. Twisted sheet metal and wire rod in the pool. Twisted sheet metal and what may be the same brown/green algae growing on surfaces. Close up of steel debris. Piece to the right has a jagged edge. Steel beam and piece of rebar to the right. Jagged edge on the steel. Rebar in the pool. Portions of the refueling crane. More refueling crane Debris on top of some sort of sheet material above fuel racks. Close … Read entire article »
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Unit 3 Torus Inspection Video And New Images And Analysis
TEPCO has released a video of the 8 minute trip into unit 3. We have some enhanced still images from the video. Some noted information that has come out of the video: The torus room door is bowed out both across the width and height of the door as if it either experienced considerable pressure or was struck by something. Workers could not open the door even with attempts to kick it open. Structures between the air lock door and the torus door had strike damage and large pieces of debris. What looks like a pipe that has been moved about a foot away from original location. Unit 3 video on YouTube. Unit 2 video forthcoming. If you find something new of note please mention over at our HipChat live blog or in the comments. http://www.hipchat.com/gGzSKXslp Images below with … Read entire article »
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TEPCO Sending Workers Into Units 2 & 3 Basements In A Few Hours
TEPCO intends to send workers into the sub basement of units 2 and 3 on March 14th (a few hours from now) to inspect the torus area. The work will consist of checking for radiation levels, temperature, humidity, water levels etc. and possibly opening the door into the torus room. TEPCO thinks workers will receive a dose of 10 mSv each for the trip. This work could be both risky and significant since there is some speculation that corium or at least very highly radioactive water may reside in the torus. Unit 3 currently shows as .2 sV/h torus radiation Unit 2 currently shows at 16 sV/h torus radiation at the “B” sensor. TEPCO has this flagged as failed. If this reading is accurate that is a very dangerous level of radiation. Sievert to … Read entire article »
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A Series Of Unfortunate Events at Fukushima Daiichi
There have been a number of odd happenings recently at the plant. What they all mean right now is not totally clear. On January 2nd, the day after the widespread new years quake, the radioactive fallout levels in Fukushima and also in Chiba spiked. A weird white ash was reported by some in Chiba, no word if this is related in any way. On January 6th the cesium levels detected leaking out of unit 3′s intake canal tripled in one day. We still have no explanation for the rush of police cars, fire engines and two buses of workers to Daiichi on January 6th (Japan time). Checks of TEPCO’s plant status reports say nothing of an incident at the plant and nothing has been reported out of those who watch the press conferences. There … Read entire article »
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Unit 3 Cooling Was Turned Off The Day Before Explosion
The cooling system at unit 3 was turned off the day before the massive explosion. The plant director was not informed for an hour of the action. Suspension of cooling caused the reactor to be without water for 6.5 hours. The RCIC cooling system was running low on battery power. Without checking the reactor pressure, workers shut off the RCIC system and attempted to start a fire pump system to feed water into the reactor. This fire pump system is low pressure and can only operate at 7 atmospheres or less of pressure. Pressure at the time of the attempt was about 40 atmospheres. The fire pump system was unable to inject water due to the high pressure and the batteries required to operate the containment venting system were not working. … Read entire article »
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